Before the season, many players left for service in World War II, thus depleting the rosters of all the teams.

The ten teams of the NFL each played a 11 game schedule during the 1942 regular season, for a league total of 55 contests.

Continuing their Chicago Bears finished the regular season at 11–0, and faced the 10–1 Washington Redskins in the championship game.

Washington, which had been embarrassed by a massive 73–0 shutout loss in the 1940 Championship Play-off, got a measure of revenge by spoiling the Bears' hope for a perfect season, winning the rematch 14–6.

In addition, four Washington Redskins were accorded All-League honors, with the Green Bay Packers and the Cleveland Rams adding three players each.